Apparatus for controlling fluids in oil wells



Feb. 20, 1940. R, CHENAULT 2,191,370

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING FLUIDS IN OIL WELLS.'

Filed March 23, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheetl 3 i@ d n Roy L CLencLLl/fi,

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1 APPARATUS Fon 4GQNTROLLING FLUIDs 1N oIL WELLS I Filed March 25, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 2Q, 1940. R. l.. cHENAuLT 2,191,370

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING FLUIDS IN OIL WELLS Filed March 25, 1959 :s lsheets-snaai s l 1 f I ,Ff-@f2 mi2 i 25 i 96 70.9 E 770 GA 7].5 V

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OIL/ 2q y z5 4 PACKE-R fltrozmm Patented Feb. 20, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT oFEIcE Roy L. `Chenault, Perm Township, Allegheny County, Pa., assignor to Gulf Research & Development Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application March 23, 1939,'se`r'ia1 No. 263,790

9 Claims.

This invention or 4discovery relates to apparatus for controlling uids in oil wells; and it comprises an apparatus for regulation of gas flow and oil ow oil wells including a tubing meansextending from the top of the well down to an intermediate level and tubing means c, extending from the intermediate level down to aproducing horizon, means for anchoring the lower tubing means in the well, a tubular Valve sleeve interconnecting said vtubing means, intelescopic sliding relation therewith and constructed and arranged to define a gas inlet aperture in conjunction with the lower'portion of the upper tubing' means and an oil choke aperturein combination with the upper portion of the lower tubing means, the effective areas of which apertures depend on the vertical relation of the sleeve and the two tubing means, and means operable by manipulation of the upper tubing means for adjusting the sleeve vertically with respect to each tubing means; al1 as more fully hereinafter set forth and as claimed.

In vflowing'cil wells and in gas lift oilwells, a string of tubing extends from the top of the well 'to the producing horizon (oil sand), usually with a packer interposed between the tubing and the well abovel the oil sand. In gas lift or air lift wells, gas or air is admitted under pressure through one or more valves or xed orifices in the tubing, at -intermediatelevels to assist in lifting the oil to the well head. For greatest economy of operation the admission of gas should be capable of accurate regulation and moreover the flow of oil through the tubing should be correspondingly regulated to secure a desirable gasoil ratio inY production. vThe oillr flow is ordinarily controlled at the bottom of the tubing by means ofl a xed orifice or bottom hole choke restricting ow through the tubing.- This expedient is really satisfactory only when it is possible to fit a choke Oi-exactly the right crosssectional area to the tubing. Fitting the proper chokeis a tedious trial-and-error operation be- "struction `and operation. Another object'is the provison'of an apparatus for independent adjustment of gas viiow and oil'iiow in oil wellsin which the two adjustments are made by simply Y provided at the opposite ends of the tubings.

(Cl. 10S-232) rotating or raising and lowering the producing string of tubing.'

According to the invention the producing stringA of tubing is divided at some level in the well above the producing horizon, and thev lower part of the tubing is anchored in the well and ordinarily is packed off above .the producing horizon; though ifdesiredthe packer can be omitted. Socket means or 'the vequivalent arAe telescopic valve sleeve is 'arranged to bridge the socket means, forming ineiect a sliding tubing section, restrained from rotation and the' sleeve is so arranged as to provide an upper variable aperture for admission of ygas into the tubing `and a lower variable aperture for controlling oil flow. The apertures can. be formed either by- -perforations in the sleeve abutting xed parts of the socket means or tubing or by perforations in the socket means or tubing abutting imperforate parts of the sleeve. The effective aperture of the orices depends on the vertical positioning of the. sleeve with respect to the two4 the lower socket means. Or if desired the threadv ed connection can be rmade at the lower socket means. Thus by simple rotary and longitudinal .adjustment of the upper string of tubing, at

the top of the well, the-two apertures can be' adjusted independently` of each other vior any rdesired rate of flow from zero to maximum.

The apparatus is `of simple and rugged construction and,',as stated, affords a complete range 'flexibility of adjustment being particularly desirable yin Wells which are produced intermittently, as is often necessary under 'proration agreements. change oriiices is obviated.

In the accompanying drawings there are shown, -more or less diagrammatically, six examples of specific embodi'men'tsfot` apparatusl within the purview of the invention.v `In the drawings,

Necessity Afor raising tubing to Fig. 1 is a. view of the apparatus in'e1evation,

with some parts in section, installed in a well,

Fig. 2 is a view in vertical section of the valve proper of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a view in vertical section of a modiiied form of the valve of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a view, partly in vertical section and partly in elevation, oi a modification wherein the gas oriice and the oil orifice are both p-rovided in the socket means,

Fig. 6 is a similar view of a modication in which the sleeve is exterior to the connecting tubings,

Fig. '7 is a similar view of a modied form of l the apparatus of Fig. 6 and Fig. 8 is a similar View of a modiilcation wherein threaded adjustment means are provided in the lower socket means.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the apparatus is shown installed in a well cased at I3 and tted with a casinghead II with inlet I2 for introduction of gas or air under pressure. A string of tubing I3 extends down the well and terminates at some intermediate level (which may be just above the producing horizon) at a socket means comprising a coupler I4 threadedly attached totubing I3 at I3 and a socket-like sleeve I3 threaded to the coupler at I1. Packing I3 is interposed at the joint between the two sleeves as shown. Av lower socket means is provided comprising a socketlike member threadedat 2I to a coupler 22 which in turn is threaded at 23 to a lower string of tubing 24 extending into the producing region of the well. A conventional packer 25 and tubing hanger 23 (omitted from Fig. l2) surround the. sleeve 22. 'I'he packer seals oil the lower part of the vwell from the upper part and the hanger anchors the lower string of tubing against falling and against rotation. Elements 25 and 23 are of known construction and function and require no detailed description. The apparatus can be installed in an uncased well equally satisfactorily.

'I'he two socket means are bridged by a tubular valve sleeve 33, having a threaded shank 3| engaging threads on the inside of sleeve I3. The sleeve makes a snug sliding joint with a'collar 32 disposed in sleeve I3 as shown and retained by a threaded cap 33 with interposedpacking 34. Lower sleeve 23 has a similar cap 33 and packing 33 surrounding the valve sleeve. Additional packing is provided at 31 in sleeve 22. The lower end-or valve sleeve has a discoid closure 43, cut away at 4I (Fig. 3) for passage of oil past it and engaging a key 42 integral with the interior of sleeve 22 (Figs. 2 and 3). The key prevents rotation of the valve sleeve 33 but permits free vertical movement.

The valve sleeve 33 has an oil oriiice 43 in the form oi' a vertical slot cooperating with the upper part of sleeve 22. and so arranged as to be closed or opened to varying degrees as the valve sleeve is movedup or down. 'I'he valve sleeve has a slot-like gas orifice 44 cooperating with cap 33 oi' the upper socket means in a similar manner. Advantageously but not necessarily a similar but shorter oriiice is provided as shown at 45 so that 'extra orliice area is provided in\ the full open position of the valve.

The casinghead II has an upper socket 43 surrounding the upper end of tubing string I3 with interposed packing at 41, and' a flange 43 Supporting an anti-friction thrust bearing 43. The entire upper tube string is carried on the bearing by nuts 53- and 5I engaging threads 32 cut for several inches Aalong the upper end of the tubing. The bearing and the nuts are made oi.'

substantial construction and of adequate size' to carry the load.

In operation the course of gas and oil through the apparatus is as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. If it is desired to change the oil orice setting without affectingthe gas orice setting, the procedure is to retain the upper part 53 of the tublng string against rotation by means of wrench or tongs (not shown) applied to part 53, loosen nut 5I from nut 53 and screw the nut 33 to raise or lower the upper tubing string. 'This moves the alve sleeve 30 with respect to the lower sock t` means and varies the exposed area of orifice 43. The nut 30 is then locked with nut 5I. To change the gas oriilce setting, nuts 33 and 3l are turned by the Wrench, which rotates the upper tubing string without moving it up or down, and thereby screws valve sleeve 33 up or down to expose diierent areas of orice 44. This adjustment simultaneously changes the setting of oriiice 43, so when oriiice 44 is adjusted to the desired position, orice 43 is brought back to its initial position by raising or lowering the upper string of tubing as described. 'Ihe gas orice and the oil orifice can be set independently to any desired position between zero and full open.

In the apparatus of Figs. 1, 2 and 3 raising the upper string of tubing closes the oil orifice 43. It is sometimes more convenient to arrange for raising of theupper tubing to open the oil orifice, and such modification Vis shown in Fig. 4. An inner sleev 30 is provided, threadedly attached at 3| to the upper end of the lower tubing and making a sliding joint with the interior of a valveV sleeve |30, which has a lower flange 32 engaging the interior of sleeve 22 and containing annular packing 33 engaging sleeve 33. Flange 32 engages key 42 to prevent rotation oi sleeve I 33. The flange clears member 22 sumciently to prevent entrapment of oil above the ange. Sleeve 30 has a solid central portion 34 and is slotted below the central portion at 33 for free passage of oil. Sleeve 30 has a slot 33 serving a function similar to slot 43 in Fig 2. I'he rest of the apparatus of Fig. 4 is like that of Figs. l and 2.

YIn operation, upon raising the upper tubing string a greater area of slot 33 is exposed,.and vice versa; just the reverse of Figs. l and 2.

' While the forms of the invention shown are particularly advantageous working embodiments the invention can be modiiied as to form without aiecting the ultimate result: independent regulation of the gas and oil flows by rotary and longitudinalmanipulation oi.' the tubing string at the top oi' the well. Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 show modied constructions each having utility in particular cases.

Fig. 5 shows a form. of the invention like that of Fig. 4 except that the oil aperture is also formed in the socket means in' lieu oi in the sleeve itself. Thus, an upper socket means 13 is provided, attached through a reducer 1I to the upper tubing string I3, and threadedly engaging at 12 the upper portion of an imperiorate sleeve 13.

A gas orice 'I4 of vertically elongated shape is provided in the socket means registering with. the upper end of the valve sleeve as shown to provide a variable throttling oriiice. Packing 13 is interposed around the sleeve as shown. 'Ihe lower oil valve is exactly likethat of Fig. 4 and requires no description.

In operation, rotaryv adjustment of the upper tubing adjusts the gas orice, and translatory ials adjustment of the tubing adjusts the oil orifice, as is apparent from the drawing.

In Fig. 6 the sleeve is an exterior sleeve and thus no socket means are required. The sleeve 18 slidingly engages a tubing section 'I9 attached by an ordinary coupling 80 to the upper tubing string |3, with interposed packing 8|, and slidingly engages the upper end of the lower string of tubing |24, with interposed. packing 82; the upper end of the vtubing being flanged at 83 to allow the lower tubing to be raised when the apparatus is withdrawn from the well. The upper end of the tubing also carries a key-way 84. Tubing member 19 carries a male-threaded flange 85 engaging threads 86 on the interior of the sleeve, as shown, and has a slot-like orifice 81 registering with the upper termination of the sleeve, as shown, to definea variable gas orifice. The oil orifice is defined by a slot 88 in a short sleeve extension 89 flxed tothe valve sleeve by a disk 90, perforated around its outer rim at 9| to allow free passage of oil.v The slot registers with the top of tubing-|24 to define a variable oil choke. Extension 89 has an integral key 92 registering with key-way 84 to prevent rotation of the sleeve with respect to the lower tubing.

The operation of the device of Fig. 6 is deemed apparent from the drawing in view of the preceding descriptions.

In Fig. 7, a valve sleeve 95 makes a threaded connection with a fiange 96 on the lower end of a tubing extension 91 coupled to the upper string of tubing I3, in a manner similar to the arrangement of Fig. 6. A gas orifice is defined by an opening 98 in the body of the sleeve registering with the lower end of the extension 91 as shown. The lower portion 99 of the sleeve is in telescopically sliding relation to a socket member |00, similar to that of Fig. 2 and including anenlarged cylindrical cavity |0|, and an integral key |02 engaging a cap |03 on the lower end of sleeve portion 99. 'I'he socket member is attached at |04 to the lower tubing 24. A slot |05 in sleeve portion 99 defines an oil choke orifice as shown.

In Fig. 8,. the threaded adjusting means are in the lower socket member rather than in the upper member as shown in previous figures. The valve sleeve |0, oriced at |09 for gas, extends into an upper socket member attached. at 2 to the upper tubing string I3, and having an integral key ||3 engaging a ange ||4 on the valve sleeve, to prevent rotation thereof. 'I'he lower end of the sleeve extends into a lower socket member I5 and has a threaded flange I6 engaging threads-H1 on the inside of the socket member. Packing ||8 in the ange makes a leakage resistant joint with a short tubular extension ||9 within the socket member as shown. The extension 9 is orificed at |20, to def-lne a variable aperture oil choke, and has a partition |2|, below which is an opening |22 to permit flow of oil as indicated by arrows.

'I'he operation of the apparatus of Fig. 8 is like that of the other modifications and requires no description.

Provision of a packerl in combination with the apparatus described is ordinarily desirable only when the working fluid level is somewhere near the lower end (not shown) of the lower tubing 24. In this case unless a packer is used there would be danger of admitting gas directly around the lower end of the tubing which would nullify the advantage of having the small adjustable gas orifice farther up the tubing to permit accurate and casing, and then readmit this gas to the tubing at a higher level. In such event the packerl is omitted. Fig. 8 shows the apparatus installed merely with the tubing hanger 26; no packer being provided, and the same arrangement can be employed with the other embodiments of the invention.

The apparatus is embodied in the usual :nate-v rals for oil well fittings. The several parts are of simple form and are readily produced by simple turning and machining operations. The

ventire apparatus can be set in position in the well, and pulled out of the well, as a unit. Operation is simple and effective.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for regulation of fluid flows in oil wells and including a tubing means extending from the top of the well down to an intermediate level, tubing means extending from the intermediate level down to a producing horizon and means for anchoring the lower tubing means in the well, the improvement comprising a tubular sleeve connecting both said tubing means in telescopic sliding relation therewith and constructed and arranged to define a gas in let aperture in combination with the lower portion of the upper tubing means and an oil choke aperture in combination with the upper portion of the lower tubing means, the effective 'areas of said apertures depending on the vertical relation of the sleeve andthe two tubing means, and means operable by manipulation of the upper tubing means for adjusting the sleeve vertically with respect to each tubing means.

2. The apparatus of claim l wherein the tubular sleeve is perforated in the lower part thereof adjacent the upper termination of the lower tubing means and is perforated adjacent the lower termination of the upper tubing means, whereby to provide said inlet aperture and oil choke aperture respectively.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein'the tubular sleeve is perforated adjacent the lower termination of the upper tubing means to provide said gas inlet aperture, and the lower tubing means contains a fixed perforated sleeve registering with the valve sleeve to provide the oil choke aperture within the lower tubing means.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for adjusting the sleeve vertically comprises nut means on the sleeve cooperating with screw threads within the upper tubing means so that upon rotation of the upper tubing means the sleeve is caused to protrude various distances from the upper tubing means, and means are provided in the lower tubing means for preventing rotation of the sleeve.

5. An apparatus for regulation of-fluid fiows in V(Sil wells and including an upper string of tubing a socket attached to the lower end of the upper tubing, a socket attached to the upper end of the lower tubing, a valve sleeve bridging the sockets and in telescopic sliding relation therewith, means in the lower socket for preventing rotary movement or' the sleeve while permitting longitudinal movement thereof, threaded meansv operably connecting the upper socket and the sleeve whereby upon rotation of the socket the sleeve is -caused to protrude to various degrees therefrom, the sleeve being oriced adjacent the lower end of the upper socket to provide a variable gas inlet to the tubing, and being constructed and arranged to denea variable oil orifice in the lower socket'the effective area of which depends on the vertical position of the sleeve with respect to the lower socket.

6. An apparatus for regulation of gas flow and oil flow in wells comprising an upper tubing extending down in the well to an intermediate level,

upper sleeve-holding means attached to the lower end* of said tubing, lower sleeve-holding means in communication with an oil horizon, means for anchoring the lower sleeve-holding means in the well, a tubular sleeve engaged at its opposite ends by said sleeve-holding means and in vertically vadjustable relation with respect thereto, said sleeve in relation with the upper sleeveholding means being constructed and arranged to establish aperture communication with the well and the interior of said upper tubing member, which aperture is uncovered to a varying extent depending on the vertical movement of said sleeve, the said sleeve further being arranged With respect to its lower holding means to establish a throttling aperture within the lower holding means uncovered to a varying extent dependent on the vertical movement of the said sleeve, and means associated with saiid sleeve and one of said holding means for adjusting the sleeve vertically with respect to the holding means. l

7` An apparatus for regulation of-,gas ow and oil flow in'oil wells comprising an upper tubing extending from the top of the well down to an intermediate level, an upper sleeve holdingsocket means attached to the lower end of the tubing, a

sarcasm lower sleeve holding socket means in communication with an oil horizon, means for anchoring the lower sleeve holding means in the well, a tubular valve sleeve engaged at its opposite ends by said sleeve holding means, and in vertically adjustable-relation with respect to them', said valve sleeve in conjunction with the upper sleeve holding socket means being constructed and arranged to establish an aperture communicating with the well and the interior of the sleeve/and uncovered to a varying extent dependent on the vertical movement of the sleev and cooperating with the lower sleeve holdin socket means to establish a throttling aperture within the socket means, uncovered to a varying extent dependent on the vertical movement o1' the sleeve, screw means connecting the valve sleeve and the upper socket means constructed and arranged so that rotation of the upper socket means causes vertical movement of the sleeve with respect thereto, and means for rotating the upper tubing and raising and lowering it whereby to vary said effective aperture areas.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the sleeve is oriiiced at a point adjacent the lower termination of said upper socket means so that different effective areas of the orice are uncovered in vertical adjustment of the sleeve, whereby to dene said first named aperture, and is oried at a point within the lower socket means so that diierent effective areas of said second orice are uncovered in vertical adjustment of the sleeve whereby to deiine said second named aperture.

9. The apparatus of claim '7 wherein the sleeve is orii'lced at a point adjacent the lower termination of said upper socket means so that different effective areas of the orifice are uncovered during vertical adjustment of the sleeve, whereby to denne said first-named aperture, and an oriced xed tube is provided in the lower socket means adapted to be uncovered to different degrees by the sleeve, whereby to define said second named aperture.

ROY L. CHENAULT. 

